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Bringing a Dog from the USA to Mexico: Requirements

Going south is easy — Mexico dropped the routine health certificate in 2019. The two things to know: a new 2026 screwworm rule for dogs, and a harder trip home.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-07-24

Planning for a cat instead? See the cat version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Mexico is one of the easiest destinations to enter: since 2019 there's no routine health certificate and no rabies-proof requirement to cross. SENASICA simply inspects your pet at the border — it must be in a clean carrier, free of ectoparasites, with no fresh wounds. Cats need nothing more.

Two things changed the picture for dogs. First, from 3 August 2026 a dog needs a New World Screwworm (NWS) inspection certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, issued no more than 5 days before crossing. Second — and this is the part that surprises people — the harder leg is coming home.

Minimum lead time: about 0 months (1 days). There's almost nothing to sequence going into Mexico. From 3 August 2026, dogs need a screwworm inspection certificate issued within 5 days of crossing — and the real planning is for the return to the US.

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. Arrive in a clean carrier for SENASICA inspection
    Mexico requires no health certificate or rabies proof to enter — but on arrival SENASICA inspects your pet at the OISA office. It must be in a clean carrier, free of ectoparasites, with no fresh or healing wounds. Disposable bedding, toys and food (beyond the day's feed) are removed and destroyed.
    Official source ↗
  2. Screwworm inspection certificate (dogs, from 3 Aug 2026)
    Effective 3 August 2026, pet dogs entering Mexico need a New World Screwworm (NWS) inspection certificate signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, issued no more than 5 days before arrival. Cats are exempt.
    Official source ↗

The trip home is the real planning problem

Bringing a dog back into the US from Mexico means meeting the CDC's dog rules (at least 6 months old, microchipped, a CDC Dog Import Form) and, because Mexico is screwworm-affected, carrying APHIS screwworm-freedom certification for re-entry. Keep your dog's rabies vaccination current for that. Cats have none of these return requirements.

At the border

Present your pet in a clean carrier at the OISA/SENASICA office. Disposable bedding (puppy pads, newspaper), toys and food beyond the day's feed are removed and destroyed, and ticks are sampled. A dirty carrier causes delays — travel clean.

The trip home: bringing your dog back to the US

Good news — Mexico isn't a CDC high-risk country, so the return is simple. A US-vaccinated dog needs only the free CDC Dog Import Form (a receipt valid 6 months, reusable), a microchip, to be at least 6 months old, and to appear healthy — no titer or endorsed rabies certificate for re-entry. Cats have no CDC requirement either way (Hawaii and Guam set their own quarantine even from the mainland).

Mexico isn't a CDC rabies high-risk country, but there's a separate USDA/APHIS catch on the way back: because of the New World screwworm outbreak, dogs returning from Mexico need a screwworm inspection/certification. Confirm the current APHIS screwworm rules close to travel — they've changed recently.

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

What do I need to take my dog to Mexico?
A clean carrier and a healthy dog for the SENASICA inspection — no health certificate or rabies proof is required to enter. From 3 August 2026, dogs also need a screwworm inspection certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, issued within 5 days of crossing.
Does my cat need anything to enter Mexico?
No — cats just need a clean carrier and to pass the on-arrival inspection. The screwworm certificate applies to dogs only.
What about bringing my dog back to the US?
That's the harder leg: the dog must be 6+ months old, microchipped, have a CDC Dog Import Form, and — because Mexico is screwworm-affected — carry APHIS screwworm-freedom certification. Keep rabies vaccination current.
Is it different for cats?
Yes — cats are far simpler in both directions: clean carrier and healthy on the way in, and no CDC or screwworm requirement on the way back. Use the cat toggle in the planner.

Other dog routes

Compare every country's lead time, titer and return requirements side by side →

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.
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